Tom's Guide is reporting that, based on word from an "industry source", Bethesda will very soon be giving the world its first look at an Elder Scrolls MMO.

Called Elder Scrolls Online, and apparently set "several hundred years before" any previous game in the franchise that includes blockbusters like Skyrim and Oblivion, Tom's says it will feature three playable factions, each represented by the crest of a lion, dragon and "bird of prey".

The report also says that after its May debut Elder Scolls Online will then be shown off more extensively at E3, with a further appearance at Quakecon 2012, where it will take centre stage alongside Doom 4.

As Tom's points out, there are currently several positions available on the corporate site of Zenimax (Bethesda's parent company), all of them advertising for employees with experience with MMO titles at a studio "currently working on an unannounced Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) title from its headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland."

We've contacted Bethesda for comment, and will update if we hear back.